Page 73 of The Sword and the Damsel

Once they were settled in, Sir Elias led them down to a vast dining hall filled with courtiers and holy men. Archbishop Richard was at the head table and stood when Sir Elias led the three of them to their seats by his side.

Sir Elias introduced them. “My lord, I am pleased to present the Earl Daniel Rossignol, Countess Carenza Rossignol, Sir Victor de Guestling, and Lady Alais de Guestling.”

Daniel and Victor bowed deeply, and Carenza and Alais followed suit with low curtsies.

“Welcome to Canterbury,” Archbishop Richard intoned in a deep voice with a slight nod of acknowledgment, gesturing for them to be seated. His dark hair was streaked with gray and cut into a chin-length bob. His salt and pepper beard was trimmed into a neat point. He wore white vestments that were richly embroidered and draped to the floor. “I was sorry to hear about the death of your uncle. Lord Raymond de Broase was a troublesome man but a good friend to the Church.” The archbishop gave a brief smile, but it didn’t reach his sharp, calculating eyes.

Victor held his breath. A year and a half ago, Lord Raymond de Broase had tried to invade Winchelsea and kill Daniel. Fortunately, Daniel had defeated his uncle. It didn’t bode well that the archbishop chose to start the conversation with condolences.

“My lord,” said Daniel, “you honor us with your hospitality. I am grateful for your warm welcome, and I look forward todiscussing a number of matters of mutual interest. I hope that in time you will consider me a good friend to the Church as well.”

“Daniel,” the count said, inviting them with a gesture to be seated. “I have been impressed with your handling of relations with Lady Helisende and your cousin in Hawkhurst. You seem to have negotiated favorable agreements for yourself, taking land away from both without provoking them to fight back. It was clever of you to give Hawkhurst back to your cousin. Some saw it as a sign of weakness, but I think it shows foresight. You gained an ally in young Raymond where you might have had an enemy. The de Broase territories were hard enough to hold together without adding Winchelsea to the mix. If you had taken Hawkhurst, you wouldn’t have lasted long. As it is, you are in a strong position.”

Daniel smiled and nodded his head, accepting the compliment without commenting on it.Wise decision, Victor thought.

“Tell me, Victor,” the count said loudly, giving him an irritated look. “How is your aunt getting along with the other Cinque Ports?”

Thank heavens he and Daniel had prepared for this question. “My aunt has always had friendly relations with the other Cinque Ports. Her daughter just married the Baron of Hythe. But my aunt has always maintained her independence. She is a friend to all, but bows to none. She has always respected the power of Canterbury. I know that she wishes nothing more than peace and friendship with all her neighbors.”

“And what do you think of Helisende, Daniel? Does she offer you friendship?”

“My lord,” Daniel said with a placid smile, “the countess has shown herself to be an intelligent and canny leader, and we have allied our families through marriage as well as by agreement. Our mutual respect has allowed us to keep peace in the region,and we stand united with Hastings as well as my cousins in Hawkhurst and Pevensey when it comes to mutual defense and trade. It is a most fruitful relationship.”

Victor watched Carenza exhale in relief. A small, amused smirk crossed the count’s face as he noticed Carenza squeezing Daniel’s hand.

“Tell me, Lady Alais,” the count said, turning and smiling like a cat pouncing on a mouse. Victor went rigid and squeezed Alais’s hand harder than he ought. “What do you think of Helisende? I understand you were her…guest…around the time Lord Raymond de Broase died.”

Alais smiled and took the question in stride. “The countess has long been an ally of Winchelsea. Now that I am married to Sir Victor, she is family. I am honored to play a part in strengthening such a longstanding alliance.”

The archbishop pursed his lips in disappointment. He certainly wasn’t expecting her poise and diplomacy.What an amazing woman I’ve married!

“If I may, my lord,” Daniel interjected. “There was a small matter I wanted to bring to your attention—a bit of business we must take care of in Canterbury. Sir Victor’s cousin Sir Robert committed a crime and must be brought to justice. We have reason to believe he is here.”

“He is, and he’s become quite a nuisance.” Victor shouldn’t have been surprised, but he never ceased to be amazed by the archbishop’s attention to detail. “I would be delighted if you could rid me of him. The wives of several of my vassals have complained of his unwanted attentions, and he owes money to nearly every lord in town. I believe he is entangled with a money lender I am trying to apprehend named Matthew.”

Matthew? Of course, Robert would be involved with a lowlife like Matthew. Perhaps there would be an opportunity to take care of both at the same time.

“Rid me of Sir Robert,” the count continued, “and I will consider it a favor. Rid me of Matthew as well, and I will be most grateful indeed.”

“Sir Victor has a plan,” said Daniel, “and we’d like permission to coordinate with your men.”

“I grant you permission to do so,” the archbishop said with a wave of his hand. “Sir Elias, make the necessary arrangements.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Thank you, my lord,” said Daniel. “Now, I understand you were negotiating with Hawkhurst about grain shipments.”

From that point forward, Archbishop Richard’s focus was entirely on Daniel, and Victor could relax and eat at last.

He looked down at his plate. There was some lumpy pink stuff and some charred brown stuff and a bright yellow something. The expensive spices and sauces made the food all but unrecognizable, and his appetite suddenly left him. What he wouldn’t give for a bit of Marie’s cooking! He managed to move some of it around on his plate but didn’t take a bite.

“Eat,” said Alais under her breath. “Even if you don’t want to, you need something in your stomach, and we have to play our part as gracious guests.”

Victor forced himself to pick at the food while Alais made polite small talk with a priest from London. It was a relief when the meal finally ended, and Sir Elias led him off to coordinate the capture of Robert, and possibly Matthew. Not that Victor had any intent of capturing Robert alive after all he’d done, but there was no need to announce that to the archbishop’s men.

After dinner, Alais and Carenza retired with the countess. The archbishop and Daniel were still engaged in deep conversation. Sir Elias tapped Victor’s shoulder and beckoned for him to come.

“I believe you wished to speak with the head of the Watch. Come. I will show you to him.”

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